Judge candidate questioned over 2004 LSN charges

One of the three candidates for vacant judge positions in the High Court assured a panel during Friday&#039;s public interviews that his conviction by the disciplinary committee for legal practitioners on 14 charges of unprofessional conduct would not affect his candidacy.Advocate Slysken Sikiso Makando allegedly mismanaged trust funds in 2004 and violated the rules of the Law Society of Namibia (LSN) regulating the management of trust accounts by legal practitioners. He was nearly struck off the roll, but, due to a technical issue, the High Court dismissed the removal application and referred the case back to the committee. Makando was allowed to continue practicing.The disciplinary process followed after the LSN received a complaint from the public."Since then, there have been no complaints against me from the public," Makando said on Friday. Makando assured the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that the matter between him and the LSN has been resolved. "In fact, they nominated me, which shows that there are no ongoing issues between us," he said.Enhanced transparencyThe other two candidates who participated in Friday&#039;s public interviews are Philanda Christiaan, currently serving as the chief magistrate of Namibia and acting judge of the High Court, and Advocate Beatrix de Jager, a legal practitioner also serving as a member of the LSN.This was the very first public interview for candidate judges and follows the decision of the JSC in September of this year to amend the regulations. This change was made to enhance transparency in the judiciary.The new regulations did not make public interviews a requirement, but they will be applied in cases where the JSC deems it necessary.Following the interviews, the JSC must now make recommendations to the president, who, according to the constitution, has the authority to appoint judges.The panel members for the interviews include chief justice Peter Shivute, judge president Petrus Damaseb, attorney general Festus Mbandeka, and two members of the legal community, advocates Sakeus Akweenda and Elias Shikongo.–kristien@republikein.com.na

Judge candidate questioned over 2004 LSN charges

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Judge candidate questioned over 2004 LSN charges

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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